Posted on 08/31/2007 4:40:18 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3
GOP presidential hopeful Rep. Tom Tancredo (Colo.) said Friday it is “time the taxpayer gravy train left the New Orleans station” and urged an end to the federal aid to the region that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina two years ago. “The amount of money that has been wasted on these so-called ‘recovery’ efforts has been mind-boggling,” said Tancredo, who is running a long-shot presidential campaign. “Enough is enough.”
Citing administration figures, the lawmaker said that $114 billion has been spent on the effort to rebuild a large stretch of the Gulf Coast after the storm hit New Orleans in August 2005 and claimed more than 1,600 lives.
“At some point, state and local officials and individuals have got to step up to the plate and take some initiative,” said Tancredo. “The mentality that people can wait around indefinitely for the federal taxpayer to solve all their worldly problems has got to come to an end.”
The lawmaker criticized in particular the amount that has been wasted through fraud and abuse, estimated at $1 billion.
“This whole fiasco has been a perfect storm of corruption and incompetence at all levels,” he added.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2007
www.gov.state.la.us CONTACT: MARIE CENTANNI
225-342-9037
Governor Blanco responds to U.S. Rep. Tancredo’s call for a Katrina spending moratorium
BATON ROUGE - Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco issued the following statement today after learning of Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo’s (R-Littleton) call for a moratorium on Katrina spending. Citing a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, Tancredo characterized federal recovery aid as “runaway government spending.”
“Perhaps Rep. Tancredo should read the entire report to which he refers. The GAO report cites the federal government as the source of waste, not those at the state and local level who continue working around the clock to rebuild their communities. He should also know the facts behind the $114 billion figure that is so easily touted as the monetary cure-all for the largest disaster in our nation’s history. Federal investments in the Gulf Coast’s recovery have been generous and historic. However, appropriations still have not come close to the magnitude of our damages or to the commitment President Bush pledged in Jackson Square shortly after Katrina.
“The federal government suggests it has allocated more than $114 billion to the Gulf Coast recovery - but they often fail to mention this $114 billion was distributed among five states - Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Florida - in the aftermath of three disasters, including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Of this, it is estimated that federal commitments to Louisiana are roughly $60 billion. A substantial portion of this assistance was directed to emergency assistance and meeting short-term needs arising from the hurricanes, such as relocation assistance, emergency housing, immediate levee repair, and debris removal efforts, leaving less than $26 billion for actual ‘bricks and sticks’ rebuilding of permanent infrastructure. Of this, we have forced enough federally-required paperwork through the eye of the needle to get nearly $7 billion spent on permanent construction projects, including more than $3 billion that has been paid directly to Louisiana home! owners.
“To characterize our ongoing recovery challenges as ‘runaway government spending’ is an insult to Americans in need. Let me remind him and others in Congress that Louisiana has contributed nearly $5 billion of our own resources toward this historic recovery effort. We have painstaking accountability measures in place to ensure every dollar is appropriately spent on recovery. We have undergone numerous audits, and we stand tall in the way Louisiana has honestly disbursed its federal dollars. I share Rep. Tancredo’s concern for transparency and accountability, and I urge him to stand with us as we face this long-term recovery, just as we would stand with Colorado should residents there suffer a major disaster. Join us in demanding more efficient use of recovery aid by reforming the Stafford Act, cutting the reams of red tape that are hampering our progress.”
###
The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation
Louisiana’s Fund for Louisiana’s People
www.louisianahelp.org 1-877-HELPLA1 (877-435-7521)
Go Tancredo!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
It’s about time somebody showed some guts.
So Louisiana “only” received $60 billion out of the $114 billion allocated to 5 states? And they had to file paperwork to get it. Wow, Uncle Sam sure is a meanie.
He’s right on the money here, and also on immigration.
I would disagree with her.
Go Tancredo!
Amen! Too bad that, by his own admission, he doesn’t have good hair! He would be a fine President.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
450,000 people in pre-Katrina New Orleans. $114,000,000,000 divided by 450,000 = $253,300 per person.
Right on, man the GOP Needs more Tancredo’s...
Hmmm, I should read the comments before posting. :)
Sometimes I really question people’s expectations for federal aid. I was listening to a piece produced by NPR on people in Huston who had stayed. They interviewed one single mother who had been working two jobs to rebuild her families life. I was impressed by her industry. They then mentioned that she got a $960/month housing grant after 2 years. I had to pause and ask how that was appropriate for relief work. Just how long does “disaster relief” last???
I have a feeling how this election will turn out. I will write in Tancredo
WOW
I think I told this to pissant, that the only different between the Founders, and Tancredo and Hunter, is how they dress. Aside from that, I think their ideologies are in-step with one another, with Tancredo being just a little more extreme than Hunter.
And what are the “first-tier” candidates saying? I’m guessing nothing with guts.
I was listening to talk radio yesterday and the host Jay Severin was talking about this very subject.Jay brought up an observation by none other then “superliberal” Cokie Roberts who opined that while many parts of N’olins remained devastated there was one section,the Asain section that was almost totally rebuilt.The real question,if one group of people could utilize Federal funding to rebuild why can’t others ???
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